PLACENTIA – It will be an all-Trinity League final in the Open Division of the CIF Southern Section boys soccer playoffs.
Orange Lutheran defeated Valencia, 3-1, on Saturday in an Open Division semifinal at Valencia High. The Lancers advance to championship game Saturday, Feb. 28.
The Lancers (13-3-4) will play Trinity League rival Mater Dei (16-1-3) in the championship game. Mater Dei reached the final with wins of 4-3 and 2-0 over JSerra this week.
Kyler Firouzman, who committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, scored the first Lancers goal. Biola University commit Dylan Rodriguez scored the second goals for the Lancers in the second half. Caleb Rodriguez added the third Lancers goal later in the second half.
Nathan Cueva scored Valencia’s goal, his 39th of the season and his fourth in the CIF-SS playoffs this year.
The Open Division of eight teams uses a “Champions League” format. The teams played their first-round opponent twice, with cumulative scores from the two games determining which team advanced. The same cumulative-score method moved the final-four winners to next week’s championship game.
Orange Lutheran defeated Valencia, 1-0, on Tuesday.
Dylan Rodriguez described the Lancers’ playoff run as “an amazing journey.”
“This is my family, these are my boys,” said Rodriguez, nodding toward his celebrating teammates. “I wouldn’t want to be here with anybody else.”
Orange Lutheran coach Mike Osegura said playing in the Trinity League prepared the Lancers for the Open Division challenge. The Lancers, seeded No. 8 in the eight-team group, beat top-seeded Palos Verdes to get to the quarterfinal and semifinal games against Valencia.
“The Trinity League is such a gauntlet,” Osegura said. “You learn how to win close games.”
Orange Lutheran led, 1-0, at halftime.
The Lancers’ Maxwell Hernandez made a slick steal near the right sideline, sent the ball to his left where junior Firouznam took the pass and, from five yards out, blasted the ball to the left of Valencia goalkeeper Danny Segura for the goal.
A few minutes later Valencia got its best scoring chance of the first half. Valencia’s Johnny Flores got off a good kick but Orange Lutheran goalkeeper Jacob Aguilar dove to his right to get both hands on the ball and pull it in.
Valencia tied it early in the second half. Cueva, who committed to UC Riverside, received a long pass, crossed the field from his right to his left and with his left foot kicked it past Aguilar to make it 1-1.
Cueva had another scoring chance midway through the second half. He tried to roll the ball across to just inside the left goal post, but Aguilar dove to get his right hand on the ball to flick it away.
Osegura said keeping tabs on Cueva was emphasized over the two games against Valencia.
“He’s a very good player,” Osegura said. “He’s scored so many goals for them. Our center-back, Caleb Rodriguez, who’s a sophomore, did fantastic today. He’s had two games against him and did a great job against him.”
Orange Lutheran took the 2-1 lead with Hernandez again setting up a goal with an excellent pass. Hernandez’ crossing pass from the corner found senior Dylan Rodriguez open five yards in front of the goal. Rodriguez immediately drilled it in from there to give the Lancers a one-goal advantage.
“I saw we were on the counter attack,” Rodriguez said. “I knew as soon as No. 7 (Hernandez) got the ball, as soon as he crossed it and I received the ball, I knew that was going in, as soon as I took that touch. “
The Lancers secured their trip to the Open Division final with sophomore Caleb Rodriguez’s goal.
In the two league matches this season between Orange Lutheran and Mater Dei, the Monarchs won, 2-1, and the other game ended in a 1-1 tie. Mater Dei finished first in league, JSerra finished second and Orange Lutheran was third.
The site and time of the Open Division final, and all division finals, will be announced in the coming days.
The boys and girls soccer championship games will be played El Modena High and at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.
Related Articles
Top 5 teams on Cinderella playoff runs in girls basketball and girls soccer Schedule for Saturday’s CIF-SS girls soccer playoff games CIF-SS girls soccer: Scores from Wednesday’s CIF-SS playoff games CIF-SS boys soccer playoffs: Schedule for Saturday’s games CIF-SS boys soccer playoffs: Scores from Tuesday’s quarterfinals
Hence then, the article about orange lutheran boys soccer beats valencia advances to open division final was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Orange Lutheran boys soccer beats Valencia, advances to Open Division final )
Also on site :
- TTW Announces Top 50 Nightlife Travel Destinations in the World for 2026
- 'Barbie' Star Shares Emotional Tribute to Eric Dane
- This Terrible New Olympic Event Must Be Exiled From the Games Forever